China to send fresh anti-piracy navy convoy

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Oct 2009

CHINA will deploy a fresh naval convoy to the Gulf of Aden to protect vessels from Somali pirates, state media said today, just 10 days after a Chinese cargo ship was hijacked by armed bandits. The flotilla setting sail tomorrow will consist of two missile frigates tasked with replacing two other Chinese frigates currently patrolling pirate-ridden shipping lanes in the gulf, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Last week the Chinese coal-carrying vessel De Xin Hai was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean northeast of the Seychelles with 25 crew members on board, prompting China to vow to rescue the vessel and crew.
The new convoy will be the fourth to take part in international anti-piracy efforts in the region since the end of last year, Xinhua quoted a spokesman from the People's Liberation Army Navy as saying.
The two frigates will be joined by a supply ship that has been on duty in the area for about three months.
In total, the convoy will boast a crew of more than 700, including a special forces unit, and will be equipped with two shipborne helicopters, the unnamed spokesman was quoted as saying.

Source: AAP